Starting off with Nokia Maps we get two new features, the first being a new traffic layer that improves reliability and quality of flow information. I wish I had compared before and after for the traffic layer, but I do remember not being as impressed with it and having a hard time telling the direction of traffic. Now the update makes it a lot easier to distinguish the flow of traffic and which direction. Check out the screenshot below of a typical Monday in Los Angeles.

The other addition to Nokia Maps is the ability to get public transit schedules from the route planner. When you select public transport as your mode of transportation you’ll have the option to “get more routes” right above the directions. Oddly, I clicked that and was directed the store to search for apps to complete this task. The option was to install Nokia Transit, which I have, and resulted in no solution. Maybe an update for Nokia Transit is incoming?

Cinemagraph receives a most-welcomed upgrade – the ability to share your creations with the world. You can select ‘share’ from the app menu when viewing a picture in Cinemagraph and upload it via social media, email, or messaging. In all instances the image is uploaded to Nokia’s servers and the recipients are sent a link to view the masterpiece, like mine below. The site is also mobile friendly, so if you send it as a text message to a buddy you can rest easy they’ll be able to see it.

The update for Nokia Music is a little harder to figure out. There wasn’t anything in the Marketplace description indicating new features, bug fixes, etc. If you notice anything new please let us know in the comments below.

There is also an update for the audio settings, but I was unable to download them from the marketplace. So, like Nokia Music, if you notice anything new before I get the update, let us know. Update - Over at MyNokiaBlog they have a screenshot of the Audio settings update. So what's new? You can now set the same playback volume for all music and video tracks. Also some folks in the comments are saying there are more presets for the equalizer. (Thanks to Windows Phone Central reader Chad for the image below)

It's great to see Nokia working hard to make their current devices and services better. We showed you the improvements they've made with the camera in the Lumia 920 earlier today. Now we get these apps updated and can look forward to Portico tomorrow. As Ice Cube would say, today was a good day.

If you're a Lumia users running Windows Phone 8 and want to upgrade, you can find all three apps in the Nokia Collection in your Store App. You can also hit these links from your Nokia Lumia Windows Phone.

For Nokia Maps go here in the Windows Phone Store. If you want Cinemagraph go here in the Store. Last, but not least, if you want Nokia Music go right here. Or use the QR codes below with the order Cinemagraph in the middle, Maps and Music on the left and right respectively.

If I recall, the Marketplace checks once a day for updates. So that's why sometimes you'll see a bunch of apps at once. I'm sure someone will correct me below if I'm wrong, but that's how it works I think. Otherwise, in the next 24 hours you'd see all the apps available for update. Anyways, we love you too. (edit- I stand corrected. Unless someone else chimes in)

I find that it checks at least once per day as long as it's still pinned on the start screen... beyond that, I have no idea. I've not gone more than 24 hours, but WPC usually posts right away (or at least within a few hours), and every time I go to the app, it offers it right away. It's annoying that there isn't a manual check for updates button, but I don't find it all that painful to do it by hand either... especially since I check WPC constantly, lol.

Nokia is awesome. They really do listen to their consumers. Ever since I bought the 920, I've been trying to spread the word around about all the great work Nokia is doing. And they continue to impress with their regular updates!

you get a pretty big thumbnail, but (fortunately) it's just a still. Otherwise facebook timelines would get chaotic. But yeah, amazing work from Nokia. Sharing was really needed to make cinemagraph useful. Now they need to enable coments and likes etc on the memories.nokia.com

This is what sets Nokia apart for Windows Phone. They're here not just to make money, but to offer the best experience to their customers and they prove it. If only they would stop limiting their flagship devices to certain carriers worldwide. Other than that, they've done everything you could ask for and as soon as I get a chance I'm leaving T-Mobile for ATT and a smoking hot red Lumia 920. That's a phone I could really enjoy for the length of a contract. I'll use WhatsApp to save on messaging costs so I won't be stuck with an $80 plus bill.

You should try out straight talk. I went with them partly because they are way cheaper than ATT and don't want any more contracts. I have been with them since I got my 920 a month ago and service has been very good.

It sound weird but I have both cyan 900 and Red 920 and I'm still with Tmobile. I've 10gb data with tethering and all I do is to use my Radar as a hotspot to my venerable Red L920. I always use Bluetooth headset so nobody sees that I'm actually carrying two phones and the 920 basically is my daily driver. I must admit that it gives me the best smartphone experience you can't find anywhere.

Wow, that's such an interesting concept. I sold my Radar to get an unlocked HTC Titan which is great cause I get plenty of 4g speeds now with T-Mobile expanding their network. I really would like to stay with T-Mobile though. So maybe I'll just pay for monthly hotspot and get the L920 that way. Thanks, neve lr thought of that.

Could you not just unlock the L920? I live in Canada, and simply purchased a Rogers L920, unlocked it, and am currently using it with Telus, but I could just as easily use it in the states, with T-Mobile, for example.

From my understanding the Lumia 920 does not have the bands needed for an unlocked 920 to get anything better than Edge network on T-Mobile so even that would not help. My unlocked HTC Titan supporting those bands actually gets 4g all over Baltimore. But if an unlocked Lumia 920 can get 4g on T-Mobile as my Titan does, I'll gladly pay full price for it.

I'm not too sure of the 920 lack of support for the T-Mobile refarmed network but I live in Columbus (Ohio) and the Tmobile is yet to cover here with the refarmed network but I'm very certain that AT&T Lumia 900 perfectly gets 4g speed on T-Mobile refarmed network. I was recently in Long island and I did enjoy 4g speed on my retired Lumia 900. For now I'm 4g on my Lumia 920 through the 'hotspot general'(HTC Radar).

THIS is why I chose Nokia over HTC. They actually UPDATE their apps and firmware. Now it does look like HTC has taken a more agressive approach with their new WP8 devices, but lets just see how long it takes before they sink back in to bad habits.

Thank you WP Central for reporting this since Windows Phone 8 cannot seem to show available updates. I leave my phone connected to WiFi all day as well as on the charger, so it has plenty of ability to check as well...

OMG! Nokia Maps finally shows traffic for NYC! Its not silky smooth but at least it works now. I think they really need to focus on performance in the next update. But I got a feeling they may already be working on the next version. My guess it will come in early summer and be connected with HERE. Hopefull they will barrow some POI data from Bing too, at least for the US

Just updated the three apps. How do we update the audio settings? I haven't gotten a notification yet. I'm looking forward to the OS and firmware updates. Thanks, WPCentral, for keeping us in the know!

Wow, that's such an interesting concept. I sold my Radar to get an unlocked HTC Titan which is great cause I get plenty of 4g speeds now with T-Mobile expanding their network. I really would like to stay with T-Mobile though. Thanks, never thought of that.

I don't know the kind of encryption AT&T uses for their Lumia phones but I tried all the known phone unlock sites but all to no avail. Also unlike the Canadian version of the 920 which is pentaband and supports Tmobile's 3g/4g network, the AT&T version does not support support the AWS spectrum Tmobile uses for their 3g/4g network. I must say that T-Mobile is refarming their network and in some few cities one can access their 4g network with these AT&T branded phones but until they expand to cover most of the country you would be stuck with 2g data speed if you choose to use an unlocked AT&T phone on T-Mobile's network.